Boating
Northern Ireland is lined with canals and rivers, and there are
many lakes and waterways. Because canals connect urban centres,
hiring a boat is a good way of visiting towns while still enjoying
the countryside. Many tour operators specialise in hiring out boats;
for a list contact the English Tourism Council. Yachts and cabin
cruisers can also be hired, and facilities abound in sailing areas
such as the Norfolk Broads.
Cruising
Loch Erne has become very popular for cruising
holidays and several tour operators and local companies can arrange
holidays; contact the Tourist Board for more details.
Cycling
Cyclists are well catered for in Northern Ireland, and there are
many designated routes. Some of these pass through towns and villages
and some go through wilder areas. All are signposted and maintained,
and bicycles can be hired.
Diving
Northern Ireland can offer the diving enthusiast several areas to
explore; these include Strangford Lough, some 29km
or 18 miles long and averaging 6km or 3.5 miles wide, a fascinating
underwater world with many contrasting diving sites. The history
of sea traffic has left a legacy of wrecks in and around the Lough
such as the ‘Lees’ wreck, an old liberty
ship now lying at 12m or 39ft, or the remains of the largest vessel
on the Co Down coast, the American troop carrier ‘Georgetown
Victory’. Also of interest is the rugged, towering
coast of Rathlin Island, and Northern Ireland’s north coast.
Fishing
Sea
fishing is popular all along the coast and boats of all
sizes can be hired at most resorts. Strangford Lough
is famed for its skate and tope. Carlingford Lough
is almost as good and the coast of Belfast Lough
is dotted with sea angling clubs.
There are great waters for river and lake fishing,
particularly in the Mournes area of Down, the Glens
of Antrim and the River Bann, which is
known for excellent salmon fishing. In most areas
a rod licence and a coarse fishing permit
are needed. Day permits are available; check at the nearest tackle
shop or consult the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (see Contacts
section).
Golf
Some of the best golf courses are located on the coast – at
Whitehead, Bangor, Royal Portrush, Ballycastle,
Royal County Down at Newcastle and the Chairndhu
Club near Larne. Weekly and daily rates for playing are
available from the club itself or the nearest tourist information
centre.
Pony trekking
This is widely practised, especially in areas such as the
mountains and forests around Newcastle and Castlewellan, the North
Down coast and the Causeway coastennis.
Walking
Northern Ireland’s scenic beauty and varied landscapes make
it a rewarding country to explore on foot. Forest trails, cliff-top
paths and mountain hikes are accessible from the widely scattered
villages and towns. Lake trails are good around Lough Neagh
and the Fermanagh Lakeland. The Mourne
Mountains and parks in County Down and
the Nine Glens in County Antrim are also excellent
for hiking.
Archaeological sites, such
as stone-age tombs, stone circles (notably in Beaghmore),
monasteries, Celtic crosses, Norman castles and 17th-century fortified
houses offer interesting stopovers. The best known and longest trail
(896km or 560 miles) is the circular Ulster Way,
largely marked, which runs all around Northern Ireland. Another
known marked trail is the North Down Coastal Path.
Special Interest
Northern Ireland offers many opportunities for special interest
holidays, from poetry and pottery to cooking, gardening, painting
or music. For details of companies that offer tailor-made special
interest holidays, contact the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (see
Contacts
section). |
